routage

Routage, in information technology and telecommunications, is the process of selecting paths for information to travel from a source to a destination across a network or system. It encompasses data packets in computer networks as well as voice calls and text messages in telecommunication networks, and is a core function of routers and signaling systems.

In data networks, routers maintain routing tables that determine the next hop toward each destination. Routes may be static or learned dynamically through routing protocols such as RIP, OSPF, IS-IS, and BGP. Route selection relies on metrics such as hop count, bandwidth, latency, geographic considerations, and policy constraints. Dynamic routing protocols tend to converge after topology changes, producing a consistent network view that supports efficient forwarding and load distribution.

In telecommunications, routage concerns the assignment of calls and messages to appropriate signaling and switching resources to reach their destination. Traditional telephone networks use routing among switching centers and trunk groups, while mobile and IP-based messaging rely on signaling protocols (for example SS7 or Diameter) and centralized databases (such as HLR or messaging servers) to locate recipients and route traffic. Routing decisions may account for regulatory requirements, cost, quality of service, and network status.

Beyond basic forwarding, routage intersects with traffic engineering and network security. Operators implement policy-based routing, prefix filtering, and routing advertisements to manage performance and prevent misrouting. Security concerns include route hijacking and spoofing, mitigated by authentication and validation mechanisms (for example RPKI and related safeguards) and careful peering policies.

Emerging trends, such as software-defined networking and network automation, provide centralized control and dynamic adjustments of routes. IPv6 adoption and enhanced routing protocols continue to shape routage across contemporary networks.